CLARKSVILLE — Pack the sunscreen and grab the kids. The city’s aquatic center is now open.

Located at 1611 Oakland St. in Clarksville, the aquatic center hosted its grand opening at noon Wednesday. Local DJ Corey Pintado got everyone in the mood with dance music every hour. The first song? “YMCA.”

Mary Townsend, aquatic director, said there will be music all the time, but the DJ will only be there for the first few days.

With music playing and the grand opening underway, people were enthusiastic about the new addition to Clarksville.

“We just wanted to try the new park in Clarksville out,” Kristal Jaggers said. “We’ve been seeing pictures of it on Facebook and wanted to come try it out.”

Tom Cogan, Parks and Recreation director, said that the project has taken about eight years. He said residents tried to raise funds before, but the timing was never right.

Cogan said that the entire project will cost $10 million. The center was funded with a 1-cent sales tax which also funded Clarksville Fire and Police Department improvements.

“It’s been a long, long time getting to this point,” Cogan said. “We’re just excited to be open.”

A zero entry pool, a splash pad, a dump-bucket play structure, a lazy river, a vortex pool, two slides and a pool with a climbing wall and basketball goal can all be found at the aquatic center. There are also shaded picnic areas and a concession stand.

The center has nine cabanas available to rent. The cost is $7 an hour, but the center asks they be rented in two-hour increments. The public is also welcome to bring their own pop-up tents and lawn chairs.

“This is a blessing for Clarksville,” Huey Simpson said. “It’s something for the kids to enjoy.”

The outdoor pool area will be open daily throughout the summer. The hours of operation are noon to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, with break times at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.; also noon to 6 p.m.. Wednesdays through Saturdays, with break times at 2 and 4 p.m.; and from 1-6 p.m. Sunday with a break at 3.

General admission is $6. The price will be $4 for ages under 2 or over 55. Family nights are Monday and Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Admission is $3 per person during this time.

The indoor pool area is not open yet. It is scheduled to be completed in October.

The aquatic center will be open for the Fourth of July. Family night will begin at 6 p.m. with admission being $3 per person. The pool will stay open after 8, so the First Baptist Church fireworks can be seen.

No other special events are scheduled for the summer, but Townsend said the center can be reserved for parties. All of the information for scheduling the rentals can be found at the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

Way to go Clarksville ! Now everyone from the river valley area can stop here instead of driving to Alma. Not trying to say anything negative about Alma water park, but its a lot closer from Russellville to Clarksville . When will russellville ever get their head out the sand and figure this out?